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For those who fish from a boat, the month of September means only one thing: the best time of year to pursue their passion has begun. In fact, we can say that from early September, at least through late November, we’re in that time of year when the coastal waters begin to cool down after the hot season, and predators—including pelagic species—are once again abundant.
We’re in those months when a big catch is possible— or at least when it’s easier and more likely to have some really fun fishing trips. To go after a big catch, we have to focus almost exclusively on one approach: live bait fishing, and in particular, trolling with live bait.
Live bait trolling is the ultimate technique for targeting large coastal and deep-water predators in the Mediterranean. However, the success of a fishing trip targeting species such as sea bream or yellowtail is not determined when the fish strikes the trolling rod, but rather during the crucial phase of locating and selecting the bait fish. In fact, the search for baitfish can be a fun part of a fishing trip in and of itself, even before setting out to catch the big predator. One technique we can use to find baitfish is the sabiki rig (a rig with very small artificial lures, hooks adorned with reflective material, and synthetic fish-skin strands).In the video below, before moving on to the topic of live-bait trolling, we’ll analyze the entire process: from reading the fish finder to locate feeding grounds, to selecting sabiki rigs according to the guidance of multiple champion Marco Volpi, all the way to precise baiting and managing the rig’s sink rate over shallows and ledges frequented by large predators.
The sabiki is a special rig consisting of a main beam to which 4 to 8 hooks—enhanced with synthetic attractants such as treated fish skin, reflective filaments, and fluorescent beads—are attached via short arms (usually between 3 and 10 cm). Although it originated as a fishing system in its own right, in the modern Mediterranean it is the primary tool for trolling.
Once you have gathered the necessary amount of live bait (horse mackerel, horse mackerel, mackerel, etc.), you move on to the actual trolling. The goal is to present the bait in close contact with the seabed or at the depth where large pelagic fish are found, while maintaining a natural movement.
The live bait trolling rig must ensure maximum invisibility with high abrasion resistance. Use 100% fluorocarbon with a diameter between 0.60 mm and 0.80 mm, with a standard length ranging from 6 to 12 meters, connected to the main line (30–50 lb braided line) using a PR knot or FG knot. The classic setup includes a trailing hook (sliding or fixed on heat-shrink tubing) sized 3/0–4/0 and a setting hook (fixed) sized 4/0–6/0. The trailing hook should be inserted into the fish’s nasal cartilages (without damaging vital organs or restricting mouth movement), while the setting hook is gently positioned under the skin of the back, near the dorsal or anal fin.
To keep the bait at the correct depth (usually between 1 and 3 meters from the bottom), the most common and effective method is the “guardian sinker.” It consists of a hydrodynamic sinker (weighing 250 to 750 grams) mounted on a section of mainline monofilament (diameter 0.30–0.35 mm, about 1.5–2 meters long) connected to the main line via a micro swivel with a snap hook or a quick-release clip, positioned upstream of the fluorocarbon leader. The lower mechanical strength of the sinker section ensures that, in the event of snagging on a rocky bottom, only the sinker breaks, saving the leader and any predator on the line.
The ideal structures for locating snappers and amberjacks, two typical targets for this type of fishing, are ledges with steep drops in depth, rocky slopes that cut through patches of Posidonia or sand, isolated offshore shoals, or points swept by tidal currents.
The snapper is a visual hunter that prefers times of changing light (sunrise and sunset) and peak tide phases, when the current pushes forage fish against the walls of the shallows.
A slight background current is essential: a complete lack of water movement makes both the snapper and the yellowtail apathetic or rather wary of our lines.
During the warm season (June through October), the presence of the thermocline (the vertical temperature gradient in the water) strongly influences the distribution of fish: amberjack tend to hunt just above or just below the temperature jump zone, which is often located between 20 and 35 meters deep.
Compared to the snapper, the yellowtail is a fish that travels long distances along current lines; therefore, carefully scanning the water with a fish finder at mid-depth and along the drop-offs is essential before setting the lines with live bait.
Mauro Giuffrè
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